ABRAHAM  LINCOLN 
FREEMASON 


AN  ADDRESS 

Delivered  before  Harmony  Lodge  No.  17,  F.A.A.M. 
Washington,  D.  C,  January  28,  1914 

By 
DR.  L.  D.  CARMAN,  P.  M. 

With  an  Appendix  Containing  the  Actions 

taken  by  the 

Masonic  Grand  Lodges  of  the  United  States 

on  Lincoln's  Death 


•      .1 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN 
FREEMASON 


AN  ADDRESS 

Delivered  before  Harmony  Lodge  No.  17,  F.A.A.M. 
Washington,  D.  C,  January  28,  1914 

By 
DR.  L.  D.  CARMAN,  P.  M. 

With  an  Appendix  Containing  the  Actions 

taken  by  the 

Masonic  Grand  Lodges  of  the  United  States 

on  Lincoln's  Death 


PRINTED  FOR  PRIVATE  DISTRIBUTION 
1914 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN,  FREEMASON. 

Worshipful  Master  and  Brethren: 

The  subject  of  my  remarks  this  evening  will  be  Abraham 
Lincoln,  Freemason.  It  may  be  regarded  as  somewhat  pre- 
sumptuous to  give  this  address  this  title,  when  Lincoln  is  not 
considered  as  one  of  the  Masonic  Presidents  of  the  United 
States,  and  while  ''Abraham  Lincoln  and  Freemasonry"  might 
be  deemed  by  some  as  a  preferable  title,  Abraham  Lincoln,  Free- 
mason, is  nevertheless  the  subject. 

It  once  was  facetiously  attempted  to  prove  that  Lincoln  was  a 
Mormon  because  in  one  of  his  early  speeches  he  made  a  number 
of  references  to  throat  cutting,  the  penalty  of  the  first  Mormon 
oath,  and  because  in  another  address  shortly  before  his  first  in- 
auguration he  stated  that  sooner  than  surrender  a  certain  prin- 
ciple he  would  have  his  body  burned  to  ashes  and  those  ashes 
scattered  to  the  winds  of  heaven,  the  peculiar  language  in  the 
third  Mormon  oath. 

While  it  has  been  said  that  anything  can  be  proved  in  Masonry, 
it  is  not  attempted  to  prove  that  Lincoln  was  a  member  of  the 
secret  society  called  Mormons  or  of  the  secret  society  called 
Freemasons,  but  a  number  of  interesting  facts  concerning  Lin- 
coln and  his  connection  with  our  Order  are  presented  for  con- 
sideration. 

One  of  Lincoln's  most  intimate  friends  in  early  life  was  Bowl- 
ing Green,  an  earnest  Mason,  a  Past  Master  and  a  member  of 
the  old  Grand  Lodge  of  Illinois,  the  records  of  that  Lodge  show- 
ing him  to  have  attended  the  communications  of  1836  and  1827. 

While  Lincoln  was  never  formally  received  into  the  Masonic 
Order,  he  first  saw  Masonic  light  in  connection  with  his  friend- 
ship and  close  association  with  Bowling  Green.  Honor  to  him 
who  may  safely  be  called  the  Masonic  Preceptor  of  Abraham 
Lincoln. 

It  was  not  an  unusual  practice  in  the  early  days  of  Masonry 
in  this  country  in  sparsely  settled  localities,  remote  from  an 
active  Lodge,  for  several  members  of  the  fraternity  to  get  to- 
gether, form  an  emergent  or  occasional  Lodge  and  make  Masons, 


with  no  record  being  made  of  the  proceedings.  If  Lincohi  was 
not  thus  made  a  Mason,  he  in  some  manner  obtained  consider- 
able Masonic  knowledge  and  probably  from  Bowling  Green 
prior  to  1837  when  Lincoln  removed  from  Menard  County,  111., 
to  Springfield. 

When  in  1842  Bowling  Green  died  and  was  buried  with  Ma- 
sonic honors  it  is  somewhat  significant  that  Lincoln  was  selected 
by  the  fraternity  to  make  the  address  at  the  funeral,  an  address 
he  was  unable  to  finish,  breaking  down  with  emotion  during  the 
delivery. 

If  Lincoln  was  not  a  Mason  irregularly  made,  he  must  have 
been  in  sympathy  with  the  known  objects  of  the  Order  to  have 
been  invited  to  speak  at  a  Masonic  funeral. 

Clinton  Lodge,  No.  19,  at  Petersburg,  111.,  was  granted  its 
dispensation  by  the  Grand  Lodge  in  October,  18-1:2,  and  the 
funeral  referred  to  was  evidently  under  the  auspices  of  the 
Masons  who  formed  this  Lodge. 

As  a  matter  of  historical  interest  the  list  of  members  of  Clin- 
ton Lodge  in  1843  is  given,  as  all  the  members  were  acquaint- 
ances if  not  friends  of  the  future  President.  It  will  be  noted 
that  John  McNeal,  the  betrothed  of  Ann  Rutledge,  Lincoln's  first 
love,  was  Junior  Warden. 

List  of  Members  of  Clinton  Lodge,  No.  19,  Petersburg,  111., 
1843:  John  Bennett,  W.  M.,  Martin  S.  Morris,  S.  W.,  John 
McNeal,  J.  W.,  Nathan  Dresser,  Secretary,  Jacob  West,  Treas- 
urer, David  McMurphy,  S.  D.,  Wm.  B.  Kirk,  J.  D.,  Aaron  B. 
White,  Tyler,  M.  M.  John  B.  Broadwell,  Chas.  G.  Brooks,  Lewis 
B.  Wynne,  Chas.  B.  Waldo,  Thos.  L.  Harris,  Benj.  Newman, 
F.  C,  Ambrose  E.  Rankin,  E.  A.,  Jas.  Short. 

Prior  to  1840  there  was  a  Lodge  at  Springfield,  111.,  which 
at  the  organization  of  the  existing  Grand  Lodge  of  Illinois  in 
that  year,  became  Springfield  Lodge,  No.  4. 

List  of  Members  of  Springfield  Lodge,  1840:  M.  Helm,  W. 
M.,  Alex.  Lindsay,  S.  W.,  Jas.  Adams,  J.  W.,  Love  S.  Cornwall, 
Secretary,  M.  Boyle,  Treasurer,  M.  J.  Kelly,  S.  D.,  J.  S.  Kil- 
laly,  J.  D.,  James  Maxey,  Tyler,  M.  M.  Jas.  R.  Gray,  Philo 
Deers,  B.  C.  Webster,  W.  Cudmore,  Samuel  L.  Hesser,  Joseph 
Firey,  Isaac  R.  Brancher,  Wm.  Harvey,  Francis  Springer,  S.  A. 


Douglas,  Jas.  Gevisler,  Jr.,  Alex.  Shields,  Jas.  F.  Reed,  J. 
Wickershain,  John  Uhler,  Jas.  Briggs,  John  S.  Roberts,  L.  B. 
Adams,  F.  A.  McNeill,  Jas.  Shepherd,  Henry  Carrigan. 

James  Shields,  later  General  and  U.  S.  Senator,  was  J.  W.  of 
this  Lodge  in  1841  and  was  afterward  the  first  Master  of  Na- 
tional Lodge  in  this  city.  As  Harmony  Lodge  is  an  offspring 
of  National  Lodge  we  have  an  indirect  connection  with  the  first 
Lodge  in  Springfield,  Illinois,  whose  members  were  fellow  towns- 
men of  Lincoln  if  nothing  more. 

Stephen  A.  Douglas  does  not  appear  in  list  of  members  of 
Springfield  Lodge  after  1843. 

In  his  younger  days,  Feb.  22,  1842,  Lincoln  delivered  a  long 
lecture  on  Temperance,  one  of  the  Masonic  virtues. 

On  another  anniversary  of  the  birth  of  that  distinguished  man 
and  Mason,  George  Washington,  Lincoln  delivered  a  speech  on 
Inventions,  in  the  course  of  which  he  alluded  to  the  first  inven- 
tion, the  fig  leaf  apron,  showing  his  acquaintance  with  that  ven- 
erable Masonic  claim  that  Adam  was  the  first  Mason  as  he  wore 
the  first  apron. 

Lincoln  also  had  some  knowledge  of  operative  masonry,  the 
hammer,  square  and  compass  were  familiar' to  his  hands,  and  in 
his  early  occupation  as  surveyor  he  laid  out  squares  and  calcu- 
lated horizontals  and  perpendiculars. 

"For  not  by  dainty  hands  in  kid  the  shackles  fell  to  rust, 
But  warty,  horny  were  the  palms  that  made  the  nation  just." 

LINCOLN'S  MASONIC  WORDS. 

References  are  to  Federal  Edition  of  Lincoln's  Works. 

"They  were  pillars  of  the  temple  of  Liberty,  and  now  that 
they  have  crumbled  away  the  temple  must  fall  unless  we,  their 
descendants'  supply  their  places  with  other  pillars,  hewn  from 
the  solid  quarry  of  sober  reason."     1-160. 

In  a  speech  about  the  Bank,  made  in  1837,  occur  the  words, 
"Oath  of  secrecy,"  "divulged  a  secret,"  "does  not  every  merchant 
have  his  secret  mark?"     "Sound  the  alarm."     1-139-140. 

Another  sentence :  "Such  belong  not  to  the  family  of  the  lion 
or  the  tribe  of  the  eagle."     1-157. 


In  the  Lost  Township  letter  with  the  composition  of  which  he 
probably  had  something  to  do,  occurs  the  following:  "I  defy 
Daniel  Webster,  I  defy  King  Solomon."  1-285.  As  this  letter 
was  making  sport  of  James  Shields,  an  officer  of  Springfield 
Lodge,  this  sentence  may  have  had  more  intended  significance 
than  would  ordinarily  appear. 

Here  are  some  more  of  his  Masonic  words : 

"I  wish  to  stand  erect  before  the  country."     3-169. 

"Will  cling  to  it  with  a  desperate  grip."     3-169. 

"The  sharp  point  against  him."     3-169. 

"If  you  have  ever  studied  Geometry  you  remember  that  by  a 
course  of  reasoning  Euclid  proves  that  all  the  angles  in  a  tri- 
angle are  equal  to  two  right  angles."     -4-69. 

"The  cements  which  bind  together  the  different  parts  of  the 
Union."     4-258. 

"The  circle  from  which  all  their  propositions  radiate."    4-263. 

"Charter  of  freedom."     5-155. 

"Marks  another  step."     5-161. 

"Our  children  and  our  children's  children."     6-151. 

The  word  "spot"  has  a  peculiar  place  in  Masonry  and  this 
word  affords  the  basis  for  the  famous  so-called  Spot  resolutions 
introduced  by  Lincoln  in  Congress  during  the  Mexican  War, 
Dec.  22,  1847. 

In  his  speech  at  Philadelphia  before  inauguration  he  said  that 
he  "Would  rather  be  assassinated  on  the  spot  than  surrender," 
and  the  words  "Fatal  blow"  though  copied,  were  frequently  used 
in  the  joint  debate  with  Douglas  at  Freeport,  August  22,  1858. 

Several  times  he  used  the  words  "Darkness  to  light,"  and  in 
his  telegram  to  General  Sherman  on  his  march  to  the  sea,  he  said : 

"It  brings  those  who  sat  in  darkness  to  see  a  great  light." 
7-274. 

In  a  letter  to  Speed  he  said,  "All  will  be  Harmony,"  a  senti- 
ment peculiar  to  this  Lodge  at  least.     2-3. 

In  speaking  of  slavery  and  not  of  Masonry  he  once  referred 
to  "blue  lodges  as  they  call  them  everywhere  doing  their  secret 
and  deadly  work."     2-271. 

We  are  all  familiar  with  that  now  English  classic  the  address 
at  Gettysburg,   Masonic   in   every  line.     Note   the  emphasis  by 


repetition  placed  upon  tlie  word  "dedicate."  Mark  the  conclu- 
sion "Government  of  the  people,  by  the  people,  for  the  people 
shall  not  perish  from  the  earth." 

The  man  who  wrote  the  Gettysburg  address  not  a  Mason? 

Listen  to  these  words :  "I,et  us  have  faith  that  right  makes 
might,  and  in  that  faith,  let  us,  to  the  end,  dare  to  do  our  duty, 
as  we  understand  it." 

"And  having  thus  chosen  our  course,  without  guile  and  with 
pure  purpose,  let  us  renew  our  trust  in  God,  and  go  forward 
without  fear  and  with  manly  hearts." 

"With  malice  toward  none,  with  charity  for  all,  with  firmness 
in  the  right  as  God  gives  us  to  see  the  right,  let  us  strive  on  to 
finish  the  work  we  are  in." 

The  man  who  spoke  these  words  not  a  Mason? 

With  the  tinge  of  a  mystic,  the  inspiration  of  a  prophet,  the 
man  who  regarded  all  men  as  his  brethren,  that  man  not  a 
Mason  ? 

The  man  who  spoke  like  a  Mason,  lived  like  a  Mason  and  died 
like  a  Mason,  that  man  not  a  Mason? 

No !  No !  No !  and  a  thousand  times  No !  The  true  Masonic 
spirit  breathes  throughout  the  life  of  this  remarkable  man. 

In  1866  the  Government  published  a  volume  containing  the 
tributes  of  foreign  nations  to  Abraham  Lincoln.  In  this  single 
volume  appear  the  resolutions  and  tributes  of  forty-four  foreign 
Masonic  grand  lodges  and  subordinate  bodies. 

Was  Lincoln  a  Mason  to  them?  Of  these  forty-four  lodges 
how  many  called  Lincoln  brother?  Only  twenty.  Here  is  doc- 
umentary evidence  of  a  kind.  Twenty  contemporaneous  docu- 
ments concerning  our  illustrious  brother,  Abraham  Lincoln. 

As  the  volume  referred  to  is  not  a  rare  work,  only  the  list  of 
lodges  is  here  given  with  such  portion  of  the  resolutions  as  re- 
ferred to  Lincoln  as  a  Freemason. 

FOREIGN  MASONIC  LODGES  ON  DEATH  OF 

LINCOLN. 

Belgium.     Septentrion  Masonic  Lodge  of  Ghent. 

"Lincoln  personified  the  cause  of  liberty  and  human  fraternity." 


8 

France.     Lodge  of  La  Franche  Union,  at  Choisy-Le-Roy.     De- 
partment of  Seine. 

"We  mourn  the  loss  of  a  brother  whose  memory  will  ever  be 
dear  to  patriots  and  Free  Masons.    He  honored  Masonry." 

"From  this  date  the  name  of  Abraham  Lincoln  is  inscribed  on 
the  list  of  our  members,  and  at  each  session  for  three  months,  a 
brother  will  rise  at  the  call  of  his  name  and  answer:  'Abraham 
Lincoln  died  like  a  Mason  to  elevate  humanity  outraged  by  slav- 
ery.' At  the  expiration  of  three  months  we  will  celebrate  a 
Masonic  funeral  to  his  memory." 

Perfect  Union  Masonic  Lodge,  Orient  of  Confoleus.     Charente. 
New  Friendship  Lodge  of  Grasse. 

"Sympathy  for  the  glorious  death  of  one  who,  after  having 
used  the  hammer,  square  and  compass,  those  living  implements 
of  our  immortal  societ}%  etc." 
United  Benefactors  of  Gentilly. 
To  Grand  Lodge  of  N.  Y. 

"The  very  illustrious  brother,  Abraham  Lincoln,  has  given  his 
life  for  the  love  of  his  country,  etc.,  thus  setting  the  most  noble 
example  a  Masonic  brother  can  give  to  his  brethren.     Free  Ma- 
sonry has  suffered  an  irreparable  loss." 
Orion  Lodge  of  St.  John,  Gaillac  Orient. 
Lodge  of  Toleration  and  Progress,  Lure. 

"Sympathy  for  the  memory  of  Brother  Lincoln." 
L'Escole  de  la  Morale  Lodge  of  Libourne. 

"Lincoln,   our  illustrious  brother."     "Lodge   will  mourn     for 
three  months." 
Lodge  of  Les  Arts  Reunis,  Orient  of  Macon. 

"The  glorious  martyr  of  equality  and  fraternity." 
Friends  of  Truth  Lodge,  Metz. 
Lodge  of  St.  John  of  Jerusalem,  Nancy. 

"The  great  Masonic  association  that  gloried  in  calling  Mr.  Lin- 
coln one  of  its  children." 
Clement  Friendship  Lodge,  Paris. 

"We  Masons  mourn  him  not  only  as  a  brother,  but  as  a  friend 
of  the  whole  human  race.     Lincoln's  first  thought  was  the  Ma- 
son's motto:  fraternity." 
Lodge  of  Triumphant  Friends,  Paris. 


Chapter  of  Mars  and  the  Arts,  Paris. 

"A  stronger  bond,  a  more  intimate  union  than  the  common  tie 
united  us  particularly  to  his  great  heart.     Abraham  Lincoln  was 
our  brother." 
Sovereign  Chapter  of  the  Friends  of  the  Country,  Valley  of  Paris. 

"Glory  to  our  brother,  Lincoln,  who  practiced  the  virtues  in- 
culcated by  our  order,  and  who  Masonry  is  proud  to  number 
among  the  number  of  her  children." 
L'Avenir  Lodge,  Paris. 

"Regret  for  the  death  of  Brother  Abraham  Lincoln." 
Scotch  Masonic  Lodge  La  Prevoyance,  Paris. 
St.  John's  Lodge  No.  14-7,  Heroes  of  Humanity. 

"All  Free  Masonry  mourns  the  death  of  x\braham  Lincoln  and 
this  lodge  also  regrets  the  loss  of  a  man  who  was  an  honor  to 
our  order,  etc." 
Ancient  Accepted   vScotch  Rite,   Paris. 

"Lincoln,  whom  we  had  the  honor  to  count  among  our 
brothers." 

Lodge  of  Henry  the  Fourth,  Paris. 
Perseverance  Lodge,  Paris. 

"Has  any  living  man  practiced  so  well  the  humane  principles 
inculcated  by  Free  Masonry?     And  who  is  more  deserving  of 
the  regrets  of  their  brethren  ?"    Lodge  ordered  a  triple  mourning 
salute  in  memory  of  Brother  Lincoln. 
Lodge  of  Admirers  of  the  Universe,  Paris. 

"The  memory  of  Brother  Abraham  Lincoln." 
Scotch  Hive  Lodge,  Paris. 

"Free  Masonry  is  moved  with  just  indignation  at  the  atrocious 
crime  that  has  deprived  it  of  one  of  its  most  illustrious  represen- 
tatives." "Condolence  for  the  loss  of  the  zealous  Mason  who 
has  proclaimed  the  great  Masonic  principles  of  liberty,  equality 
and  fraternity."  "Memory  of  the  very  illustrious  brother,  Abra- 
ham Lincoln." 

Lodge  of  St.  John  of  Jerusalem,  Paris,  to  Grand  Lodge  of  New 
York : 

"The  glorious  death   of   one  who  had   handled   the  hammer, 
square  and  compass." 
Harmony  Lodge  of  Paris. 


10 

Lodge  Saint  Pierre  des  Acacias,  Paris. 

"Brother  Abraham  Lincohi,  member  of  the  Grand  Lodge  of 
New  York." 

"Death  of  their  brother,  Abraham  Lincoln." 
Lodge  of  the  Fraternity  of  the  People,  Paris. 

"The  horrible  outrage  to  which  Brother  Lincoln  has  fallen  a 
victim." 
Scotch  Lodge,  No.  146,  the  Right  Line. 

"The  crime,  etc.,  deprives  Masonry  of  a  brother." 
Rite  of  Mizraim.     Supreme  Grand  Council. 
Loge  Renaissance. 

"All  the  virtues  possessed  by  Lincoln  are  Masonic  virtues,  sym- 
bolized in  our  degrees  of  initiation. 

"When  an  apprentice,  he  purged  his  mind  of  all  the  subversive 
passions,  which  was  an  indispensable  preparation  for  the  good 
conduct  of  life. 

"As  a  companion  he  had  learned  to  live  orderly  by  labor,  and  a 
scrupulous  observance  of  right  and  justice,  a  course  which  was 
marked  out  by  rule,  square  and  compasses. 

"Finally,  like  Hiram,  he  succumbed  to  the  blows  of  an  out- 
rageous pride  for  having  remained  inflexible  in  the  discharge  of 
his  duty." 

Lodge  of  St.  Augustus  the  Beneficent,  to  Grand  Lodge  of  New 
York: 

"First,  the  son  of  a  laboring  man,  he  was  an  apprentice,  then 
he  became  a  journeyman,  and  last,  a  master,  thus  realizing  our 
Masonic  symbols." 

Cradle  of  Henry  the  Fourth  Lodge,  Pau. 
Friends  of  Perfect  Union  Lodge,  Perpignan. 

"An  illustrious  Mason,  the  very  dear  brother,  Abraham  Lin- 
coln." 

"Our  very  illustrious  brother,  Abraham  Lincoln." 
Royal  Scotch  Lodge  the  Elect  of  St.  Stephen. 
Lodge  of  Good  Faith,  St.  Germain  en  Laye. 

The  Gazette  de  France,  May  5,  1865,  spoke  of  Abraham  Lin- 
coln as  of  the  Grand  Lodge  of  New  York.     P.  124. 
Grand  Lodge  of  Freemasons  of  Ireland. 
Grand  Lodge  of  Freemasons  of  Scotland. 


11 

England.     Lodge  of  Gymnosophists,  London. 

"Abraham    Lincoln,   member   of   the   Grand   Lodge   of    New 
York." 

Italy.     Social   Progress  Lodge,  Florence. 
Lodge  Anziani  Virtuosi,  Leghorn. 
Lodge  le  Lume  e  la  Verita,  Messina. 
Italian  Una  Lodge,  Parma. 
Grand  Orient  of  Masonry  in  Italy,  Turin. 
Italian  Masonic  Lodge,  Carthage  and  Utica,  Tunis. 
Germania  of  the  Golden  Horn  Masonic  Lodge,  Constantinople. 

"Plave  lost  a  brother  in  the  person  of  the  illustrious  deceased 
and  have  seen  but  few  like  him  since  the  foundation  of  the  order." 


12 

It  will  be  noted  that  there  are  several  references  in  these  reso- 
lutions to  Abraham  Lincoln,  member  of  the  Grand  Lodge  of 
New  York.  It  is  possible  that  this  error  arose  from  the  fact 
that  this  Grand  Lodge  participated  in  the  funeral  ceremonies  in 
New  York  City,  as  the  Grand  Lodge  and  other  Masonic  bodies 
in  the  several  States  through  which  Lincoln's  body  was  carried 
on  its  way  from  Washington  to  Springfield  took  part  in  the  cere- 
monies in  their  States. 

The  Grand  Lodge  of  New  York,  however,  was  unaware  that 
Lincoln  was  a  member  of  that  Lodge  or  any  other,  as  the  D.  G. 
M.  of  that  jurisdiction  on  April  19,  1865,  the  day  of  mourning, 
addressed  a  letter  to  Bro.  B.  B.  French  of  Washington,  which 
was  answered  as  follows : 

From  Masonic  Monthly,  May,  1805,  p.  351. 

Office  of  the  G.  M.  of  Knights  Templar  of  the  U.  S.  A. 

City  of  Washington,  April  31,  1865. 
R.  W.  Rob't.  D.  Holmes,  D.  G.  Master,  G.  L.  of  N.  Y. 
My  Dear  Sir  and  R.  W.  Brother: 
Yours  of  the  19th  is  just  received.     President  Lincoln  was  not 
a  Freemason.     He  once  told  me  in  the  presence  of  M.  W.  Bro. 
J.  W.  Simons,  that  he  had  at  one  time  made  up  his  mind  to  apply 
for  admission  to  our  Fraternity  but  that  he  feared  he  was  too 
lazy  to  attend  to  his  duty  as  a  Mason,  as  he  should  like  to  do, 
and  that  he  had  not  carried  out  his  intentions. 

I  told  him  that  it  was  not  too  late  now.  "Well,"  said  he,  "as 
likely  as  not  I  shall  apply  to  you  some  day  to  let  me  in." 

He  was  the  most  pure  hearted,  honest,  upright  man  I  ever 
knew,  and  ought  to  have  been  a  Mason.  Had  he  been  my  own 
father  I  could  not  have  lamented  his  death  more  sincerely  than 
I  do. 

Very  truly  and  Fraternally  yours, 

B.  B.  French. 

An  examination  of  the  transactions  of  all  the  Grand  Lodges 
of  the  United  States  in  existence  in  1865,  shows  some  reference 


13 

by  the  Grand  Master  to  the  death  of  Lincoln  or  some  action  by 
the  Grand  Lodge  of  the  following  jurisdictions : 

Connecticut.  Massachusetts. 

District  of  Columbia.  Nevada. 

Indiana.  New  Hampshire. 

Illinois.  New  York. 

Iowa.  Ohio. 

Maine.  Wisconsin. 

As  would  be  expected  no  notice  of  the  death  of  the  President 
was  taken  by  any  Southern  State,  but  their  transactions  for  18G.") 
afiford  pathetic  reading  of  tales  of  fire  and  sword. 

Other  Grand  Masters  and  Grand  Lodges  occupied  themselves 
with  matters  of  Masonic  routine  only. 

These  actions  of  the  Masonic  Grand  Lodges  of  the  United 
States  upon  the  death  of  Lincoln  have  not  until  this  time  been 
brought  together. 

Comparison  has  been  heretofore  made  between  Abraham  Lin- 
coln and  one  of  our  first  most  excellent  Grand  Masters,  in  his 
virtuous  and  amiable  conduct,  in  his  unfeigned  piety  to  God  and 
in  his  inflexible  fidelity  to  his  trust,  the  Hiram  who  was  also 
slain,  and  like  him,  his  memory  is  not  dimmed  by  the  passing 
years. 


14 

APPENDIX. 

CONNECTICUT. 

From  address  of  David  E.  Bostwick,  G.  M.,  May  10,  1865. 

While  our  hearts  were  swelling  with  gratitude  to  God  that  the 
dark  clouds  seemed  lifting  with  signs  of  a  coming  peace,  we 
are  again  plunged  into  the  depths  of  sorrow  at  the  loss  of  our 
beloved  chief  magistrate,  upon  whom  all  seemed  to  lean  with 
confidence  in  this  great  emergency,  struck  down  by  the  hands 
of  a  cowardly  assassin. 

DISTRICT  OF  COLUMBIA,  MAY  2,  1865. 

From  address  of  George  C.  Whiting,  G.  M. 

On  the  evening  of  the  llth  of  April — a  day  which  had  been 
previously  observed  by  the  Christian  world  as  the  anniversary 
of  the  cruel  murder  of  the  Prince  of  Peace — our  honored  and 
beloved  President,  whilst  enjoying  a  brief  relaxation  from  the 
responsibilities  and  cares  of  his  high  official  station,  was  stricken 
down  by  the  hand  of  a  wretched  and  misguided  man.  His  crime 
no  mortal  thought  can  measure,  and  none  but  Him  who  hath 
said  "vengeance  is  mine,  I  will  repay,"  can  adequately  punish. 
He  stands  before  the  bar  of  the  Judge  Eternal,  and  our  just 
though  puny  anger  is  hushed  in  the  awful  wrath  of  offended 
Deity. 

As  members  of  a  loyal  and  order-loving  association,  peculiarly 
bound  to  be  peaceable  subjects  to  the  civil  powers,  and  never 
to  be  concerned  in  plots  or  conspiracies  against  the  peace  and 
welfare  of  the  nation,  nor  to  behave  undutifully  to  magistrates, 
are  called  to  share  in  the  deep  and  universal  sorrow,  it  is  meet 
that  we  should  recognize  the  amiable  and  virtuous  conduct,  and 
the  inflexible  fidelity  to  his  trust,  which  so  marked  him  as  the 
fit  successor  to  our  illustrious  brother — the  great  and  good  Wash- 
ington— and  in  some  appropriate  form  give  expression  to  our 
sense  of  the  loss  our  country  has  sustained— for,  in  the  languao-e 
of  the  great  poet,  he 

"Hath  borne  his  faculties  so  meek,  hath  been 
So  clear  in  his  great  office,  that  his  virtues 


15 

Will  plead  like  angels,  trtimpet-tong'd,  against 
The  deep  damnation  of  his  taking  off; 
And  pity,  like  a  naked,  new-born  babe, 
Striding  the  blast,   or  heaven's  cherubim,  hors'd 
Upon  the  sightless  couriers  of  the  air, 
Shall  blow  the  horrid  deed  in  every  eye 
That  tears   shall   drown  the  wind." 

That  portion  of  the  address  of  the  G.  M.  alluding  to  the  as- 
sassination of  President  Lincoln  was  referred  to  Brothers  B.  B. 
French,  R.  McCurdy,  and  P.  Hooe,  who  retired  and  subsequently 
reported  the   following  preamble  and   resolutions : 

Whereas,  on  the  evening  of  April  14th,  Abraham  Lincoln, 
President  of  the  United  States  of  America,  was  stricken  down 
in  death  by  the  hand  of  an  assassin,  by  which  a  cloud  of  grief 
was  spread  over  the  people,  in  the  deepest  affection  of  whose 
hearts  his  many  virtues  had  enshrined  him. ; 

And  whereas,  although  he  was  not  a  member  of  our  order,  by 
his  pure,  and  honest,  and  upright  life,  every  act  of  which  was 
marked  by  charity,  brotherly  love,  relief  and  truth,  he  illustrated 
all  the  attributes  that  should  beautify  the  life  of  a  Free  and  Ac- 
cepted Mason ; 

Therefore  does  the  Grand  Lodge  of  the  District  of  Columbia 
deem  it  eminently  proper  to  announce  to  their  Brethren  and  the 
world,  their  public  appreciation  of  the  dread  calamity  which  has 
befallen  the  nation  in  the  tragical  death  of  its  Chief  Magistrate, 
their  sorrow  for  its  occurrence,  and  their  abhorrence  and  detes- 
tation for  the  crime  which,  and  the  criminal  who  so  wickedly 
removed  him  from  the  scenes  of  earth. 

Resolved,  That  while  the  blow  of  the  assassin  which  struck 
down  Abraham  Lincoln,  almost  paralyzed  the  hearts  of  his  fel- 
low-citizens, to  which  he  seemed  dearer  than  any  man  who  has 
lived  since  Washington,  it  has  in  no  wise  disconcerted  the  action 
of  the  Federal  Government,  the  existence  of  which  depends  not 
upon  the  life  of  any  man,  but  ever  lives  in  the  patriotism  of  the 
American  people. 

Resolved,  That  this  Grand  Lodge  can  find  no  words  of  suffi- 
cient strength  to  express  their  horror  and  detestation  of  the  act 
which  deprived  our  country  of  its  good,  and  pure,  and  virtuous 


16 

Chief  Magistrate,  nor  of  the  wicked  assassin  by  whose  hand  the 
awful  deed  was  done,  and  who  has  gone  to  meet  the  penaUy  of 
his  crime.     "Vengeance  is  mine,  I  will  repay,  saith  the  Lord." 

Resolved,  That  this  Grand  Lodge  hereby  expresses  its  high 
admiration  of  the  character  of  the  late  President,  whose  life  was 
without  a  blemish,  and  who  passed  away  from  earth  in  the  very 
zenith  of  his  fame ;  the  goodness  and  kindness  of  whose  heart 
was  a  proverb,  and  shall  live  in  the  memories  of  a  grateful  peo- 
ple, and  be  handed  down  from  generation  to  generation  as  long 
as  time  shall  last. 

Resolved,  That  the  bereaved  widow  and  children  of  our  mur- 
dered friend,  have  our  sincere  and  heartfelt  sympathies,  and  our 
fervent  prayer  that  the  God  of  the  widow  and  the  fatherless  will 
so  temper  this  dreadful  affliction  with  mercy  as  to  enable  them 
to  sustain  their  burden  with  fortitude,  and  to  say  in  submission 
and  humility,  "The  Lord  gave  and  the  Lord  hath  taken  away ; 
blessed  be  the  name  of  the  Lord." 

Resolved,  That  the  officers  and  members  of  this  Grand  Lodge 
will  wear  the  usual  badge  of  mourning  for  six  months,  in  testi- 
mony of  their  respect  for  the  memory  of  the  great  and  good  man 
who  has  fallen. 

Resolved,  That  the  Grand  Secretary  be  directed  to  cause  these 
proceedings  to  be  published  in  the  National  Freemason  and  the 
newspapers  of  this  city,  to  have  a  copy  of  them  properly  en- 
grossed and  signed  by  the  proper  officers,  and,  under  the  seal  of 
the  Grand  Lodge,  presented  to  the  family  of  the  deceased. 

Which  was  received  and  the  resolutions  adopted. 

INDIANA. 

Tribute  to  Abraham  Lincoln. 

At  meeting  of  the  Grand  Lodge  May  34,  1865,  Brother  Al- 
bert Lange  asked  that  the  rules  be  suspended  to  permit  him  to 
offer  the  following  which  was  granted : 

Whereas,  In  the  inscrutable  Providence  of  Almighty  God, 
Abraham  Lincoln,  the  first  citizen  of  the  United  States  by  official 
station,  the  first  by  the  rectitude  of  his  life  and  daily  conduct, 
the  first  by  his  devotion  to  the  honor,  interest  and  integrity  of 
the  country,  the  first  by  the  power  and  influence  which  he  wielded 


17 

with  wisdom,  sagacity  and  courage,  has  been  stricken  down  by 
the  hand  of  an  assassin; 

And,  whereas,  It  is  due  that  this  Grand  Lodge,  representing 
328  subordinate  Lodges  scattered  over  the  whole  expanse  of  the 
State  of  Indiana,  should  give  expression  to  their  sentiments  at 
the  appalling  blow,  which,  like  a  thunderbolt  from  a  cloudless 
sky,  struck  the  heart  of  the  whole  nation ;  therefore, 

Resolved,  '[st.  That  we  look  with  abhorrence  upon  the  act, 
which  took  from  us  and  the  country,  which  he  so  faithfully 
served,  the  man  who  through  four  years  of  deadly  strife,  with 
an  eye  single  to  the  maintenance  of  the  Government,  has  guided 
and  directed  us,  and  who,  with  the  haven  of  peace  and  security 
in  sight,  was  by  a  dastardly  act  snatched  from  the  full  fruition 
of  his  labors. 

Resolved,  2d.  That  we  concur  with  freedom  loving  people  all 
over  the  globe,  in  the  expressions  of  regret  and  deep  sorrow, 
which  this  event  has  called  forth,  and  that  we  will  cherish  Abra- 
ham Lincoln  as  the  great  Emancipator  of  an  oppressed  race  with 
undying  affection,  trusting,  that  history,  poetry  and  art  will  unite 
to  keep  his  memory  green  in  the  remembrance  of  virtuous  men 
for  ever  and  ever. 

Resolved,  3d.  That  a  copy  of  these  resolutions  be  forwarded 
to  the  bereaved  widow  and  family  of  the  deceased  in  token  of 
our  heartfelt  sympathy  with  the  great  loss,  which  they  and  the 
country  at  large  have  sustained. 

Above  unanimously  concurred  in  and  adopted. 

ILLINOIS. 

From  address  of  H.  P.  H.  Bromwell,  G.  M.,  Oct.  3,  1805. 

On  the  14th  day  of  April,  Abraham  Lincoln,  President  of  the 
United  States,  was  slain  by  the  murderous  hand  of  a  ruffian.  Pie 
fell  at  a  time  when  he  could  least  be  spared  when  all  eyes  were 
turned  to  "the  good  President"  as  to  the  only  being  who  could 
restore  the  Union,  heal  the  wounds  of  war,  and  set  the  Govern- 
ment in  motion  in  harmony  with  the  new  order  of  things.  At 
that  moment  God  permitted  him  to  be  taken  away,  to  teach  us 
"that  the  Most  High  ruleth  in  the  kingdoms  of  men  and  giveth  it 
to  whomsoever  he  will."     Abraham   Lincoln,  the  pure  patriot, 


18 

the  wise  statesman,  the  good  President,  the  honest  man,  died  a 
martyr  to  his  comitry,  to  Hberty  and  truth,  and  was  mourned  for 
as  no  man  has  ever  been  mourned.  He  was  not  a  Free  Mason, 
but  in  his  life  and  character  he  illustrated  many  of  the  virtues 
taught  and  cherished  by  the  Craft. 

I  herewith  submit  a  letter  of  sympathy  and  condolence  from 
Renaissance  Lodge  working  under  the  jurisdiction  of  the  Grand 
Orient  of  France. 

In  October,  18GT,  the  Grand  Lodge  of  Illinois  chartered  Abra- 
ham Lincoln  Lodge,  No.  518,  at  Young  America,  Warren  County, 
Illinois. 

IOWA. 

From  address  of  Edward  A.  Guilbert,  M.  D.,  G.  M.,  June  6,  1865. 
Forth  from  the  fvu^nace  fires  of  the  most  terrible  internecine 
struggle  of  all  time,  the  nation  has  come,  as  came  Jupiter  out  of 
the  war  with  the  Titans,  endowed  with  resistless  strength  and 
power,  with  her  noble  escutcheon  cleansed  from  the  plague-spot 
which  has  so  long  polluted  it,  the  republic  stands  proudly  now  in 
the  light  of  God's  approving  smile,  "redeemed,  regenerated,  DIS- 
ENTHRALLED." 

"Now  is  the  winter  of  our  discontent 
Made  glorious  summer  by  our  boys  in  blue; 
And  all  the  clouds  that  low'r'd  upon  the  land. 
In  the  deep  bosom  of  the  ocean  buried. 
Now  are  our  brows  bound  with  victorious  wreaths, 
Our  bruised  arms  hung  up  for  monuments ; 
Our  stern  alarms  changed  to  merry  meetings ; 
Our  dreadful  marches  to  delightful  measures. 
Grim-visaged  war  hath  smoothed  his  wrinkled  front. 
And  now  instead  of  mounting  barbed  steeds 
To  fright  the  souls  of  fearful  adversaries, 
He  capers  nimbly  in  a  lady's  chamber 
To  the  lascivious  pleasing  of  a  lute." 

Truly,  the  cloud  has  turned  a  "silver  lining"  to  the  light,  but 
yet  like  a  scintillant  diamond  in  a  setting  of  jet,  that  "silver  lin- 
ing" is  bordered  with  the  emblems  of  mourning.  Even  in  the 
hour  of  victory,  while  the  glad  lo !  rang  over  the  jubilant  North 


19 

and  thej-ecreatcd  South,  "there  was  death  in  the  White  House" ; 
the  head  of  the  nation — the  wise  and  pure — the  clement  and 
faithful  President  was  "done  to  death"  by  the  assassin's  bullet, 
and  he  who  was  fast  becoming  the  idol  of  his  countrymen,  was 
not !  Mournfully  sublime  was  the  instantaneous  and  universal 
transition  from  delirious  joy  to  profoundest  sorrow.  In  a  mo- 
ment of  time  the  notes  of  exultant  clarions  and  the  sonorous 
tenor  of  the  republic's  Te  Deum  changed  into  muffled  drum- 
beats, and  the  thrilling  baritone  of  heart-born  wailing. 

"He  had  borne  his  faculties  so  meek,  had  been 
So  clear  in  his  great  office,  that  his  virtues 
Did  plead  like  angels  trumpet-tongued,  against 
The  deep  damnation  of  this  taking  off." 

Like  a  wounded  hyena  in  its  expiring  throes,  rebellion  struck 
her  last  vicious  blow  at  the  nation's  life,  and  thereby  slew  the 
truest  friend  the  insurgents  had.  Yet  how  swift  was  the  pun- 
ishment the  fiendist  agent  of  a  fiendish  cabal  received.  And  how 
few  there  are  that  mourn  because  amid  retributive  physical  pangs 
of  the  most  excjuisitely  painful  character,  this  modern  Judas 
gave  up  his  worthless  life  and  went  to  his  reward. 

Let  every  true  Mason  praise  the  G.  A.  O.  T.  U.  that  the 
execrable  conspiracy  against  the  Government  of  our  fathers,  was 
in  part  unsuccessful,  and  that  with  scarcely  a  perceptible  devia- 
tion from  her  direct  course,  the  gallant  ship  of  state  went  stead- 
ily on,  albeit  her  pilot  had  fallen  at  her  helm,  a  victim  of  one  of 
the  most  damnable  crimes  of  history.  Could  any  fact  more 
forcefully  demonstrate  the  stability  of  the  republic — more  nota- 
bly evince  the  protecting  care  of  the  Omnipotent, — more  grandly 
attest  Columbia's  title  to  emblazon  on  her  shield  the  additional 
motto— ESTO  PERPETUA!  than  that  the  warworn  ship  of 
state  unchecked  by  that  "sudden  sound  and  shock"  which  would 
have  precipitated  almost  any  other  country  into  the  maelstrom 
of  revolution,  pursued  her  stately  voyage,  leaving  as  luminous 
a  wake  as  ever  behind  her.  God,  Plimself  had  given  her  a  mis- 
sion to  perform.    He  knew  that 

— ^"humanity  with  all  its  fears. 
With  all  its  hopes  of  future  years, 
Was  hanging  breathless  on  her  fate" ; 


20 

and  in  His  good  providence  He  saved  her  harmless  from  the 
shock,  and  capacitated  the  appalled  people  soon  to  see  that  it 

"Was  of  the  wave  and  not  the  rock !" 

The  helmsman  was  gone,  but  as  ever  "strong  and  great,"  the 
glorious  ship  sailed  on!  her  meteor  flag  to  be  sure  was  at  half- 
mast  in  sorrow  for  her  loss,  but  in  mute,  yet  eloquent  attestation 
of  the  worth  of  him  who  was  receiving  the  sublimest  funeral 
obsequies  the  world  ever  saw.    And  worthy  was  he  of  them: 

For  he  won  not  power  with  the  sword, 

But  by  the  love  a  nation  bore 
For  him  whose  very  soul  was  stirr'd 

With  love   for  those  he   ruled  o'er. 
W^ith  steady  stride,  onward  he  went, 

The  light  of  great  deeds  on  him  beaming; 
Up,  up  Fame's  mountain's  steep  ascent 

Its  peak  unto ;  and  while  around  him  streaming 
Were  fruition's  banners ;  from  that  summit  high, 

Like  Moses  who  Pisgah  ascended  to  die — 
He  sprang  from  the  earth  to  his  home  in  the  sky. 

Masons'  hands  assisted  to  bear  him  to  the  "equal  grave" ; 
Masons'  Lodges  were  clad  in  the  emblems  of  mourning  for  de- 
parted worth,  and  Masons  mingled  their  laments  with  those  of 
the  nation,  which 

— around  his  bier 
Are  gather'd  in  sorrow  and  fear 
Longing  to  see  of  this  stroke  the  end, 
And  mourning  a  father  and  a  friend ! 
And  their  offspring  in  all  coming  time, 
Shall  remember  well  the  ruler  brave 
And  be  guided  by  his  star  sublime. 
And  shall  make  a  shrine  of  his  lonely  grave ! 

zAnd  it  was  fitting  that  Masons  should  thus  evince  their  love 
of  country  and  their  regard  for  its  murdered  ruler,  who,  though 
he  was  not  a  Mason,  revered  the  Order,  and  was  himself  com- 
posed of  the  stuff  out  of  which  the  most  capable,  the  most  be- 
nignant fraters  are  made. 

The  committee  on  the  address  reported  as  follows: 


21 

Your  committee  recommend  that  we  hereby  express  our  sat- 
isfaction with  the  appropriate  and  timely  eulogy  on  the  death  of 
President  Lincoln,  and  that  the  thanks  of  this  Grand  Lodge  are 
due  to  the  M.  W.  G.  M.  for  this  portion  of  his  address. 

On  motion  of  Bro.  Parvin,  G.  S.,  the  M.  W.  G.  M.  appointed 
as  a  committee  to  report  resolutions  expressive  of  the  feelings 
of  this  Grand  Lodge  in  regard  to  the  assassination  of  our  late 
President  the  following  brethren : 

Col.  John  Scott, 

Gov.  Wm.  M.  Stone, 

Lieut.  Gov.  E.  W.  Eastman. 

The  special  committee  on  the  assassination  of  President  Lin- 
coln presented  the  following  report  and  resolutions,  which  were 
unanimously  adopted : 

Your  committee,  appointed  to  express  by  resolution  the  sense 
of  the  Grand  Lodge  of  Iowa  in  relation  to  the  awful  calamity 
which  has  befallen  our  nation  in  the  murder  of  Abraham  Lin- 
coln, late  President  of  the  United  States,  knowing  that  words  arc 
but  a  mockery,  and  cannot  relieve  the  burdened  heart,  yet  feel- 
ing that  propriety  and  duty  require  that  this  Grand  Lodge  should 
not  be  silent,  present  the  following  resolutions : 

1.  Resolved,  That  in  our  lamented  late  President  we  recognize 
a  patriot  and  statesman  of  purity  and  wisdom,  who  has  safely 
carried  our  country  through  the  most  terrible  ordeal  of  the  past 
four  years,  earning  the  admiration  of  the  world  by  his  purity  of 
intention  and  singleness  of  purpose,  and  the  unbounded  gratitude 
of  thirty  millions  of  his  countrymen.  That  Abraham  Lincoln 
should  and  will  be  revered  while  time  shall  last,  as  great  and 
good  among  names  not  born  to  die. 

2.  Resolved,  That  as  Masons  we  are  taught  to  detest  con- 
spiracies, plots  and  rebellions ;  and  in  an  especial  manner  to  ab- 
hor assassination. 

o.  Resolved,  That  in  depriving  our  nation  of  its  chief,  by  as- 
sassination, we  recognize  a  crime  without  a  name ;  and  for  which 
language  fails  to  express  our  grief  and  horror. 

4.  Resolved,  That  we  humbly  approach  the  grave  of  our  mur- 
dered President,  and  with  sorrow  for  his  sad  fate,  will  rear  a 


22 

broken  column   to  commemorate  his  many  virtues  and  his  un- 
timely death. 

John  Scott, 
W.  M.  Stone, 
Enoch     Eastman. 
Proceedings  of  the  Grand  Lodge  of  Io\\'a,  June  8,  186-j. 

MAINE. 

From  address  of  William  P.  Preble,  G.  M.,  May  2,  1865. 

We  will  not  be  unmindful  of  the  great  loss  sustained  by  our 
beloved  country  in  the  fiendish  and  indignant  assassination  of  one 
whose  greatest  failing  (if  any  he  had)  was,  that  from  the  up- 
rightness, purity  and  tender  heartedness  of  his  own  nature,  he 
could  not  conceive  that  any  human  being  could  be  so  utterly  de- 
praved as  to  raise  his  hand  in  murderous  assault  upon  one  who, 
by  his  unceasing  and  untiring  loving  kindness,  forgiveness  and 
patience,  stood  between  him  and  his  rebellious  and  traitorous  as- 
sociates and  sympathizers  and  the  fierce  and  long  endured  and 
smothered  wrath  of  a  justly  incensed  and  outraged  people. 
Though  our  horizon  is  again  overshadowed  with  clouds,  just  as 
we  all  began  to  hope  that  the  glorious  sun  of  peace  was  about  to 
rise  upon  and  bless  us,  we  will  not  give  way  to  useless  repinings, 
but  with  a  firm  faith  and  reliance  that  our  Supreme  Grand  Mas- 
ter does  not  permit  any  calamity  however  great  or  appalling,  to 
befall  an  individual,  much  less  a  nation,  but  for  some  great  and 
wise  purpose,  we  will,  while  renewing  our  vows  of  faithfulness 
to  the  great  principles  of  our  Order,  bow  in  humble  submission 
to  his  inscrutable  dispensations,  earnestly  invoking  his  protection 
and  guidance  upon  our  whole  country  in  this  her  time  of  peace 
and  that  in  his  own  good  time  he  will  again  unite  us  into  one 
great  and  happy  people. 

MASSACHUSETTS.    P.  20,  1865. 

Bethesda  Lodge  forwarded  resolution  of  sympathy  to  Grand 
Lodge  ''the  expression  of  their  most  sincere  condolence  and  re- 
gret on  the  loss  of  so  great  and  good  a  man  as  Abraham  Lincoln 
whose  memory  should  ever  be  cherished  by  those  who  profess 
the  principles  of  our  ancient  institution." 

Valparaiso,  July  31,  1865. 


23 

NEVADA. 

From  address  of  Joseph  De  Bell,  G.  M.,  Virginia  City. 

"April  19,  1865.  On  this  day  were  held  the  funeral  obsequies 
of  our  late  Chief  Magistrate.  The  hands  of  an  assassin  robbed 
of  life  the  beloved  head  of  the  nation.  That  nation  covered  its 
face  and  wept.  I  deemed  it  both  right  and  proper  that  we  as 
Masons  should  join  in  the  concord  of  sorrow  and  deposit  in  the 
open  grave  of  the  martyred  President  our  'chaplct  of  living 
laurel.'  I  therefore  convened  the  Grand  Lodge  and  that  body, 
accompanied  by  a  large  number  of  the  fraternity,  joined  in  the 
funeral  procession." 

NEW  HAMPSHIRE. 

From  address  of  Jonathan  E.  Sargent,  G.  M.,  June  11,  1865. 

"We,  as  Masons,  as  well  as  citizens,  may  properly  mourn  for 
the  national  calamity  which  recently  befell  us,  when  the  chosen 
head  and  ruler  of  this  nation  fell  by  the  hand  of  the  base  and 
cowardly  assassin." 

NEW  YORK. 

G.  L.  Report,  1865,  p.  43.  Report  of  D.  G.  M.  Robert  D. 
Holmes,  May  10,  1865. 
On  the  occasion  of  the  obsequies  of  our  late  President  I 
deemed  it  proper  to  respond  to  the  invitation  of  the  civic  authori- 
ties to  take  part  in  the  solemn  ceremonies  of  the  day.  In  this 
W.  M.  Sir,  you  agreed  with  me,  and  being  thus  empowered 
I  invited  the  whole  of  the  local  craft  to  take  a  position  in  the 
procession.  Over  five  thousand  brethren  responded,  and  by  my 
direction  were  dressed  in  black,  with  crepe  on  the  left  arm,  and 
a  sprig  of  evergreen  in  the  left  lapel  of  the  coat  of  each,  the 
Masters  having  been  distinguished  solely  by  their  gavels  which 
they  carried  dressed  in  mourning. 

NEW  YORK,  p.  93,  1865. 

From  report  of  M.  W.  John  L.  Lewis,  Chairman  Committee  of 
Foreign  Correspondence. 
And  there  is  a  sorrow  which  we  bear  in  common  with  our 
stricken  nation,  nay,  let  us  add  of  the  other  nations  of  the  earth. 


24 

that  our  honored  Chief  Magistrate  has  been  removed  by  the 
wicked  hand  of  violence  in  the  hour  of  his  greatest  and  noblest 
triumphs.  It  is  the  heart  throb  of  an  undivided  people,  who,  for- 
getting every  past  difference,  and  every  division  which  has  for  a 
brief  time  separated  them,  mournfully  entwine  the  laurel  with 
the  cypress. 

OHIO. 

From  address  of  Thomas  Sparrow,  G.  M.    Oct.  IT,  1865. 

On  the  morning  of  the  15th  of  April  last,  the  public  mind  was 
astounded  by  the  announcement  that  the  constitutional  Ruler  of 
this  great  nation  had  been  basely  murdered ;  that  he  who  so  lately 
was  in  every  mouth  the  theme  of  praise  or  blame,  had  gone  be- 
yond the  reach  of  both.  No  man  was  ever  called  to  greater  trials 
in  political  life.  No  man  ever  bore  those  trials  with  greater  pa- 
tience. In  the  very  midst  of  them,  in  the  very  last  exposition  of 
his  principles  and  purposes,  he  paused  to  give  utterance  to  the 
noble  sentiment,  which  I  trust,  will  govern  us  on  this  and  every 
other  occasion :  "With  charity  towards  all,  with  malice  to  none, 
doing  the  right,  so  far  as  God  gives  us  to  know  the  right,  let  us 
strive  to  finish  the  work  we  are  in."  Praise  to  the  man  who 
could  utter  such  a  sentiment. 

He  was  stricken  down  at  the  very  moment  when  the  minds  of 
men  of  all  parties  and  every  diversity  of  views  had  acquired  con- 
fidence in  his  moderation  and  wisdom,  and  were  turned  towards 
him  as  the  only  one  capable  of  adjusting  the  complicated  ques- 
tions arising  out  of  the  state  of  the  country  and  the  bitter  ani- 
mosity generated  by  four  years  of  civil  strife. 

"Praise  to  the  man.    A  nation  stood 
Beside  his  coffin  with  wet  eyes ; 
Her  brave,  her  beautiful  her  good, 
As  when  a  loved  one  dies." 

In  the  universal  grief  of  the  nation,  I  thought  it  proper  that 
the  fraternity,  as  such,  should  express  not  only  their  utter  ab- 
horrence of  "the  deep  damnation  of  his  taking  oft","  but  pay  a 
tribute  of  respect  to  his  virtues  as  a  man  and  his  integrity  as  a 
public  servant.  Accordingly  at  the  request  of  the  brethren  of 
Cleveland,  I  issued  a  Dispensation  authorizing  them  to  appear 


I  %  1%  *  f  mm  A  A  4  ^»A-»»'^i-»  A  »  »  m»«-».»A-     ^  ^  >  ^»A»_»*  ..  »  -     .m'»*'".w^*.  .   ^  . 


25 

in  public  on  the  reception  of  his  remains  in  that  city,  and  on  their 
arrival  here,  I  opened  the  Grand  Lodge,  and,  in  conjunction  with 
the  R.  W.  Deputy  Grand  Master,  and  a  large  concourse  of 
brethren,  from  all  parts  of  the  State,  participated  in  his  funeral 
obsequies. 

The  Death  of  the  President. 

Your  committee  to  whom  was  referred  so  much  of  the  Grand 
Master's  address  as  related  to  the  death  of  the  late  President  of 
the  United  States,  beg  leave  to  report  that  there  has  been,  and 
can  be,  but  one  feeling  among  the  craft  in  Ohio  in  relation  to 
the  death  of  the  late  President  Lincoln,  and  that  is  of  deep 
regret  at  his  decease,  and  of  the  utmost  abhorrence  of  the  crime 
by  which  he  was  removed.  Your  committee  sincerely  and  heart- 
ily reciprocate  the  sentiments  expressed  by  the  Grand  Master  in 
relation  to  the  lamentable  event,  and  approve  the  language  in 
which  they  were  uttered. 

Your  committee  submit  for  your  approval  the  following: 

Resolved,  That  the  Freemasons  of  Ohio  yield  to  no  class  of 
citizens  in  their  devotion  to  the  Government  and  Union  estab- 
lished by  our  patriotic  fathers,  and  have  attested  their  loyalty 
thereto  in  every  possible  manner,  the  record  of  which  is  found 
not  only  at  home,  but  on  many  a  crimsoned  field. 

Resolved,  That  while  we  sympathize  with  the  country  at  large 
in  the  bereavement  which  it  sustained  in  the  death  of  the  Presi- 
dent, we  regard  with  unmixed  abhorrence  and  detestation  the 
fiendish  act  which  deprived  the  nation  of  its  constitutional  head 
at  a  perilous  juncture  in  its  history. 

Respectfully  submitted, 

Corne;,lius  Moore, 
Jno.  D.    O'Connor, 
J.  H.  BarnhiIvL. 

Above  resolutions  were  unanimously  adopted. 

WISCONSIN. 

From  address  of  G.  W.  Washburn,  G.  M.,  June  13,  1865. 

But  while  we  may  rejoice  that  victory  has  perched  upon  our 
banners  and  right  has  come  out  triumphant  in  the  contest,  we 


26 

cannot  fail  to  share  in  the  general  grief  that  he  whose  position 
made  him  conspicuous  above  all  others,  should  be  destined  to 
close  his  career  upon  this  earth  by  the  hand  of  a  brutal  and  cow- 
ardly wretch,  who  runs  from  the  scene  of  his  terrible  crime, 
exulting  in  his  infamy  and  shame. 

It  is  not  for  me  to  pronounce  the  President's  eulogy,  nor  is 
this  the  occasion  for  it.  History  will  deal  fairly  by  him  and  the 
world  will  judge  him  in  kindness. 


1. 1^  V  «  •  ff  r.im  A  *  L  m'A'»'-^^  A 


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